Apparatus and method for controlling the filling and emptying of a fluid container

Abstract

An apparatus and method for emptying and filling a fluid container. A flow-actuated valve inside a fill tube regulates the flow through the fill tube. A cap containing the valve and a vent tube can be installed on a modified bottle used to supply water dispensers, thus enabling a user to continuously replenish the bottle from a remote supply. Alternatively, a cap containing the valve, a vent tube, and two fluid level sensors can be installed on a conventional bottle. A user is thus relieved of the burden of repetitive bottle changing, and is able to treat the water to his own specifications.

1. An apparatus for repeatedly refilling a fluid container comprising:
 a fluid-actuated fill valve inside a fill tube, said fill valve having a first and a second end, said first end communicating with a fluid supply through a conduit and valve intermediate to said fill valve and said fluid supply; 
 a fluid reservoir; 
 a vent tube; and 
 a fluid container having a top-side opening and a cap fitted on said opening whereas said fluid container is located top-side-down on said fluid reservoir having a fluid outlet valve, said cap having a through-hole through which pass said vent tube and said fill tube, said tubes creating communication between the inside of said fluid container and the inside of said fluid reservoir, the juncture between said tubes and said cap through-hole being sealed by a fluid-tight seal. 
 
     
     
       2. An apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein said fill valve comprises:
 a first tube having a first and a second end corresponding respectively to said first and second valve ends, a first tube wall, and a penetration through said first tube wall; 
 a second tube made of elastic material and being shorter than said first tube and having a second tube wall, said second tube fitted over said first tube substantially concentrically, said second tube covering said penetration through said first tube wall, and said second tube being fixed to said first tube near the ends of said second tube, said fixations being substantially fluid-tight; and 
 a flow restrictor located near said second end of said first tube. 
 
     
     
       3. An apparatus as in  claim 2  wherein said fill valve further comprises a penetration through said second tube wall. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus as in  claim 1  further comprising a fluid treatment system intermediate to and communicating with said fluid supply and said fill valve. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein said valve intermediate to said fill valve and said fluid supply is controlled by a timer device. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus as in  claim 1  further comprising a fluid level control sensor located in said fluid reservoir. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus as in  claim 1  further comprising a fluid level control sensor located below said fluid reservoir. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus as in  claim 1  further comprising a fluid level control sensor located in said fluid container. 
     
     
       9. A method for repeatedly refilling a fluid container comprising:
 utilizing said apparatus of  claim 2 ; 
 draining fluid from said fluid container into said fluid reservoir through an annulus between said fill valve and said fill tube until the fluid level in said fluid reservoir rises high enough to cover the ends of said vent and fill tubes that protrude from said cap into said fluid reservoir, said covering phenomenon blocking airflow into said fluid container and consequently blocking fluid flow from said fluid container into said fluid reservoir; 
 drawing fluid from said fluid reservoir outlet valve until the fluid level in said fluid reservoir goes below the level at which said fluid reservoir outlet valve will permit flow; 
 injecting fluid into said fluid container through said fill valve flow restrictor, said flow restrictor causing fluid pressure to increase in the vicinity of said penetration in said wall of said first tube of said fill valve, said pressure forcing fluid flow through said penetration in said wall of said first tube of said fill valve; 
 deforming said second tube of said fill valve with said flow through said penetration in said wall of said first tube of said fill valve until said deformation blocks said annulus between said fill valve and said fill tube and stops flow from said fluid container through said annulus into said fluid reservoir; 
 by means of fluid flowing through said fill valve flow restrictor, raising the level of fluid in said fluid container to the level of the end of said vent tube that protrudes from said cap into said fluid container; 
 draining fluid from said fluid container through said vent tube into said fluid reservoir; 
 closing said valve intermediate to said fill valve and said fluid supply, thereby terminating flow from said fluid supply into said fill valve, when the level of fluid in said fluid reservoir rises to the level of a reservoir fluid level control sensor inside of and at or near the top of said fluid reservoir, by means of said reservoir fluid level control sensor communicating with said valve intermediate to said fill valve and said fluid supply; and 
 by means of said cessation of flow from said fluid supply into said fill valve, equalizing fluid pressure inside and outside of said second tube of said fill valve, thereby ceasing said deformation of said second tube of said fill valve, and thereby draining fluid from said fluid container through said annulus between said first and second tubes of said fill valve into said fluid reservoir when fluid is drawn from said fluid reservoir outlet valve. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9  further including installing a pan fluid level control sensor below said fluid reservoir, said pan fluid level control sensor communicating with said valve intermediate to said fill valve and said fluid supply. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9  further including installing a pan fluid level control sensor below said fluid reservoir, said pan fluid level control sensor communicating with an alarm. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9  wherein said method is initiated with said fluid container being partially or completely empty. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9  further comprising utilizing a fluid level control sensor located inside said fluid container, said sensor communicating with said valve intermediate to said fill valve and said fluid supply. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 9  further comprising utilizing a fluid level control sensor located inside said fluid container, said sensor communicating with an alarm.